Process of making an adsorbent and the product thereof



1,630,660 May 1927' K. IKEDA ET AL PROCESS OF MAKING AN ADSORBENT AND THE PRODUCT THEREOF Original Filed June 2, 1922 gwventow Klkcd/a/ H.125 obs T. OIrQ/Zwww Patented May 31, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

KIKUNAE IKEDA AND HAJ'IHE ISOBE. OF TOKYO, AND TSURUJI OKAZAWA, 0F KITATOSHIMA-GORI, JAPAN, ASSIGNORS T0 ZAIDAN HOJIN IRIKAGAKU KENKYUJO,

OI TOKYO, JAPAN.

PROCESS OF MAKING AN ADSORIBENT AND THE PRODUCT THEREOF.-

Original application filed June 2, 1922, SerialNo. 565.431, and in Japan March 17, 1921. Divided and this application filed December 27, 1923. Serial No. 683,069.

This invention has reference to a method of preparing an adsorpting agent preferably though not necessarily adapted-for use in drying air. 7

The object of the invention consists in the method of treating acidic clay such as fullers earth, Florida earth or charcoal and like porous materials so as to render the finished product highly eflicient in adsorpting moisture from the air.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of this invention will be more readily apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed outv in the claim forming a part of this specification. This application is a division of my application 565,431, filed June 2, 1922, which has become Patent 1,541,147. In the drawings, the figure illustrates the portion of the apparatus used'during the operation of the acidic clay as an adsorpting agent. 0

Experiments have shown that various kinds of acidic clay such as fullers earth and Florida earth are best fitted for use in the preparation of an efi'ective adsorpting agent and in carrying out the process the acidic clay is first kneaded with water.

The acidic clay is first kneaded with water, the amount of which is so regulated that thereis 80 to 110 parts of total water to 100 parts of completely dehydrated clay. The kneaded mass has now acquired the proper degree of stiffness. It is now pressed through aperture 1 of appropriate size, for

instance, of 3 to 10 millimeters in diameter in the bottom of the cylinder 2. On account of the friction the motion of the kneaded mass 3 while passing through the aperture is not uniform, the velocity being greatest at the center and diminishing towards the periphery. As the mass is somewhat stiff and not quite plastic, this leads to the formation of rods with deeply indented or serrated surface 4 as shown in the drawing. The indentation is deeper when the amount of water is decreased. The indented material breaks off spontaneously at points where it is deeply indented and thus forms to rapidly moving air.

When air is passed through a mass of such small pieces of acidic clay, prepared in the manner described above, it is deprived of its moisture very rapidly, because the pieces present a developed surface and facilitate the diffusion of gases into and out ofthe pores of the earth. On the other hand, the resistance offered by the mass to the passage of rapidly moving air is comparatively small, because the interstices between the pieces are relatively large.

The etiiciency of the acidic clay properly prepared may be judged from the following data. A mass of the acidic clay in sticks, weighing half a ton. occupies a Volume of one cubic meter. 2500 cubic meters of air, containing 20 grammes of aqueous vapour per cubic meter, can be passed through the mass at the rate of 10 cubic meters per minute, the outcoming air is almost dry, only the last portion retaining something like 2 grammes of moisture per cubic meter. The velocity of the passage of air can be increased five or six times, but the desiccation will not be so good, about one quarter of the moisture remaining in the air.

It is believed in view of the foregoing that a. further detailed description of the invention is entirelyunnecessary. Likewise, it is believed that the advantages of the invention will be readily apparent.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. An adsorbent consisting of a stick of dehydrated acidic clay having an uneven surface. Y

2. A process of treating fullers earth,

pieces to a temperature between 150 C. to

(300 C. to increase the rigidity thereof.

In testimony whereof we hereunto atiix our signatures.

KIKUNAE 11mm. HAJIMI') 'ISOBE. 'lSURUJl oimzluvn. 

